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Is she (Russian girl) scammer ??? Please help me.

Excuse me. I found this good website a little bit late, because I already sent some money to a Russian girl via Western Union for the passport and Visa days ago. She emailed me that she will get the new passport and visa within 8 or 9 days after she applied. (I guess she will tell me that she will receive the new passport and visa within 8 or 9 days on Friday 4 May 2007 or Monday 7 May 2007.)

But, I have not sent the money to let her buy airplane ticket yet (fortunately). I do not know whether she is a scammer (I guess she may be a scammer, but not so sure.).

***One more information:
She mostly answer my questions one by one.

(A)
Because I do not want to waste and send my big money (at least $1220 US dollars) to her again if she is really a scammer, so I want to ask your help to analyze the whole situation.
(B)
But, I also do not want to miss this opportunity to meet her or further marriage if she is not a scammer but a good russian girl.

So I hope to get help and precious insight from all gentlemen here. Thank you in advance.

Question 1:
She emailed me that she will get "the new passport" and "the Australian visa" within about 8 days after she applied. Is it for both "the new passport" and "the Australian visa" so quick ??? I really doubt it. Does anybody know ???

Question 2:
Is it so easy for a Russian girl to obtain the Australian tourist visa with Australian person's invitation letter ??? (I have never sent her any invitation letter.)

Question 3:
She is 28 years old and work for her company for 6 or 7 years already. Her salary is low ($100 US dollars/month). But, she told me that according to the travel agency and the regulation in the Australian Embassy in Russia, as long as her emplyer (her company or organization) can issue the evidence (certificate) of her current job to prove that she has a stable job in Russia, then she definitely can obtain the "Australian tourist visa" and the low income does not matter at all. Is it true ??? Please tell me. Thank you.
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In addition, she told me that her parents have real estate {ie, a apartment (flat)} where they are living now. She currently lives with her parents in her parents' apartment (flat). She said this real estate document will also be provided as evidence. Does this help her to some extent to obtain the Australian tourist visa ???
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However, Today I accessed the "Australian tourist visa website" to have a look. I think that she may be a scammer because there is a "Financial requirements" (shown below). But I am not sure whether the Australian Embassy in Russia will give the tourist visa to the Russian people looser and easier than the formal regulation of "Financial requirement" of "Australian tourist visa" (listed below). I believe that this Russian girl cannot provide evidence of "sufficient funds" to cover all costs for the duration of her stay in Australia. So, It appears that she was lying me that she can get the tourist visa without providing "sufficient funds", right?

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"Financial requirements":
You must have access to "sufficient funds" to cover all costs for the duration of your stay in Australia, including health insurance if required. You "MAY BE" asked to provide evidence of your funds.
Examples: personal bank statements, pay slips, audited accounts, taxation records, credit card limit. (please see the following link)http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tour...ligibility.htm
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Question 4:
But, Excuse me, in the above "Financial requirements",
Why does it use "may be", rather than "are","will be" ???
Does it mean any flexibility to allow some people without "sufficient funds" to get the Australian tourist visa)???

Question 5:
Does anybody here hear that some Russian people got the Australian tourist visa (recently or before) without providing evidence of sufficient funding, but she/he only provides the evidence of her/his current job issued by her/his employer ???

Question 6:
Has anybody heard of Nataly (or Nataly kokova)??? or Was anybody cheated money by her via Western Union ???

Question 7:
I met her in Lavalife dating website. She took the initiative to find me and sent message to me. and then I replied to her. She spontaneously gave me her home address in her third email.(I did not ask her home address). In fact, I also do not know whether her home address and full English name given to me are correct or not. But she said that her family has "no telephone and no computer". she also said that she wrote emails to me from "the Internet of Cafe" (***the backgroud is very similar to some reported scammers here ???).

Question 8:
She is corresponding with me now. At the beginning (since the 6th or 7th email) (at least 4 to 5 emials), She asked me to go to her Russian home to meet her and see her parents. (From this angle, it seems that she has no intention to cheat my money, right? because she just want me to go to Russia to meet her!).

But I replied to her 3 or 4 times that I do not know Russian Language so that I replied to her that it is dangerous for me to go to Russia to meet her. Then, after that, she replied to me that she is willing to come to Australia to meet me. But she has no money so that I need to send money to her to let her get the new international passport and the tourist visa first.

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***all the details are listed above. already. Hope all gentlemen here, please help me to analyze this case. Then, tell me whether she is 100% a scammer ???

All in all, now, I need all your help to make a correct decision whether I can trust her to send the extra money (at least $1220 US dollars) to let her buy airplane ticket to come to Australia. (sorry, I do not want to go to Russia to meet her. so, please do not give me this suggestion. I think it is dangerous for me to go to Russia to meet her if she is really a scammer.) So, Please help me. Thank you.

(A)
On one hand, If she is really a scammer, I do not want to waste and send my big money (at least $1220 US dollars) to her again. So I want to ask your help to analyze the whole situation.

(B)
But, on the other hand, If she is not a scammer but a good russian girl, I also do not want to miss this opportunity to meet her or further marriage

Thanks a lot for your help in advance.

Waiting for your great help and analysis.
Aries
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Question 9:
This question is not related to this Russian girl. I just heard that (1)if the Russian person's emplyer (company or organization) can issue the evidence (certificate) of her current job to prove that she/he has a stable job in Russia, and (2) she/he can buy the airplane ticket in advance before she/he apply for the Australian tourist visa (no matter where his/her funding is from, for example: her/his friend send money to her/him from overseas for ticket purchase) for checkup by the Australian embassey in Russia, then she/he definitely can obtain the "Australian tourist visa" and the low income does not matter at all. Is it true ??? Please tell me. Thank you.

Hi, ITtechy, ham, Humaid, Michael, and other friends here, Can I ask your help again?

Yes, you are right that she is a scammer! In that Russian girl's 4th (or 5th) email, she asked my phone number, home address and my full name. I do not know why she wanted to know my personal details. She said she has no home phone and told me she is poor. But she said that she wanted to use her own money to go to the telegraph office in her city to call me and want to send a paper letter and small gift to me. In fact, I did not believe what she said because she is poor and have low salary.

But, I am so wondering why she wanted to know "my phone number, home address and my full name". What can she get any advantage or any benefit or anything good from "my phone number, home address and my full name" ???

Excuse me, Can you please help me to analyze why she wanted to know "my phone number, home address and my full name" in her 4th (or 5th) email???
(**I did not tell her my home address and my full name until I sent the money to her via Western Union. So now she knew "my home address and my full name" already because when I sent her money by Western Union I have to write down my full name and address on the form and tell her in the email to let her collect the money from the Western Union in Russia. But She still does not know my home phone.)

Will it be "harmful" to me in the future "that she knew my full name and home address" ??? (I mean: Will she do any bad thing to harm me using my personal details, such as my full name and my home address ???)

Or, even she know my full name and my home address, she still cannot do anything harmful or bad to me ??? Please help me to analyze the situation. Many thanks in advance!!!

Now, I am afraid that she do any bad thing to harm me using my personal details, such as my full name and my home address.

So, all friends here, please help me in this aspect and answer my questions that I raised in the above. Many thanks in advance. I really need your help, otherwise I always feel worried and scared.

Look forward to receiving your insight and information.

Thanks a lot.

DO NOT EVER GIVE OUT YOUR PERSONAL INFO!

Just sound advice...sure I have done it too, I think we all have, even if we "knew it was a scam" but the danger is if "they" know where you are, and are running a theft ring near your community; you gave them a map!

I can't tell you all what I do, but these scammers are slick; this racket is getting so big, that it is about the third biggest revenue generator for the Eastern Block! I currently am working on putting an end to UALADYS, but there is a lot behind the scenes there. The reports here are just a tiny piece of the puzzle.

The organized crime units around the U.S. are starting a task force just for these agencies, and lone wolf scammers. See the agencies are the big boys, but it is suspected that many of the so called lone wolfs are also connected. This is a very LARGE operation, and it has so many tentacles it is almost impossible to delegate the international man power necessary to shut them down. Where they are starting to screw up, is by bringing their operatives into the U.S. and "set up shop". be it marriage / divorce take all scams, robbery, theft, it goes really deep. It's only just starting, but this is what will ultimately cause their demise!

Trust me, there are some really neat sting operations underway to really give them a big thrill, and see just how FREE the U.S. is!

Many of the ladies ARE involved, and many are just pawns (Not just UALADYS)

One thing that is great is that they are so greedy, and money hungry, they are really stupid! They are screwing up left and right, and as the old saying goes, "give 'em enough rope and they will hang themselves"!

Looking for a legit agency, pretty ladies, go to Elenas models.

And remember the old saying: if it looks too good to be true, it probably it!

Hello to all. Once again, I just want to say that nothing is 100%. Not every girl is a scammer, but it's just about impossible to tell which is which. I found seceral Russian travel agencies that claim they can help with the paperwork. One is actually stating costs, waiting periods and procedures close to what the US Embassy states on it's web site. I plan to pay an agency to do a check of this travel agency to see if they are legit. I know they could be scammers too. Who knows, the background check agency could be scammers, but the time I paid them to check out a girl they sent me info and links to anti-scam sites that had listings of the girl in question. I'll keep you all posted.On a lighter note, I have continued writing to the scammer. I know what she is, but she doesn't know I know, so I'm wasting her time and resources as her letters have actually addressed questions I ask, I figure she has to be taking the time to read what I write and respond to it. Even funnier, I gave her e-address to a bi girl I'm friends with and after receiving the exact same (word for word) first letter and photo that I received, she has engaged this scammer in a lesbian e-mail lovefest!!! I'd say more, but their discussion has been hard core pornograghic!!! Guys, if you catch a scammer, mess with them if you can!!!!

That is, Is it possible for me to claim my money back from the Western Union ? (***because the scammer/deceiver did not have a valid "English" identification to prove her ENGLISH NAME is the receiver's "English name (Nataly Kokova)" I wrote on the Money Transfer form, but the Russian branch let her pick up my money by only checking her "RUSSIAN (DOMESTIC) PASSPORT (no English words on it, only in "Russian words", I am very sure of it because the scammer told me!!! and that scammer does NOT have the "INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT (written in English) for travelling to other country" to prove that her English name is the receiver's "English name (Nataly Kokova)". So the WU Russian branch "made a serious mistake" and "did not do their correct duty in accordance with Western Union regulation". But I must say that the scammer had my (sender's) real name, home address, and MTCN number shown to the WU Russian branch.

But I think that the "receiver's "English name" identification is the MOST important because the receiver's "English name" is the person to whom I sent money. If the scammer cannot show any English valid document to prove that she is the person of the "English Name" I wrote on the Money Transfer Form, I think that the WU Russian branch cannot give my money to her (scammer). Right??? (or, I am wrong?)

Dear all, Please help provide your insight, opinions, and suggestions to me. I really hope and want to claim my money back from the Western Union because of their Russian branch's serious mistakes.

So, Is it possible for me to get back my money from the Western Union using the reasons I described in the above ???

Please tell me and help me. I need the professional suggestions and help in this aspect! Please!!! Thanks a lot.

Waiting for your professional suggestions and help!!!

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PS.
Normally, a Russian person may have two passports: one is (1)"RUSSIAN (DOMESTIC) PASSPORT (no English words on it, only in "Russian words", the other is (2) "INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT (written in English) for travelling to other countries".

Most Russian people only have "RUSSIAN (DOMESTIC) PASSPORT (no English words on it, only in "Russian words" for use in the Russian Federation.

quote:That is, Is it possible for me to claim my money (about 600 US dollars) back from the Western Union ? (***because the scammer/deceiver did not have a valid "English" identification to prove her ENGLISH NAME is the receiver's "English name (Nataly Kokova)" I wrote on the Money Transfer form, but the Russian branch let her pick up my money by only checking her "RUSSIAN (DOMESTIC) PASSPORT (no English words on it, only in "Russian words", I am very sure of it because the scammer told me!!! and that scammer does NOT have the "INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT (written in English) for travelling to other country" to prove that her English name is the receiver's "English name (Nataly Kokova)". So the WU Russian branch "made a serious mistake" and "did not do their correct duty in accordance with Western Union regulation". But I must say that the scammer had my (sender's) real name, home address, and MTCN number shown to the WU Russian branch.

you should be familiar with the very exact law of the country in which money was received, but WU is famous for being an operator "unconcerned" with scammers:
1 normally a valid ID is required to cash $, but they often deem that knowing the MCTN and the amount is enough; most WU retailers won't bother.

2 you simply use WU to send money to another person. They do not care about how or why.

3 HERE (but again the law is the one from the place of pickup ) if you wire money to anyone for any reason AND want to get it back or dispute it, YOU HAVE TO INITIATE JUDICIAL ACTION. It's not a credit card chargeback for which it's enough to write your bank.
Initiating such procedures is possible, but requires (TO START WITH) writing to several FSU authorities AND to supply them with PROPERLY TRANSLATED (prefarably authenticated ) EVIDENCE of ALL THE PAPER TRAIL TO DOCUMENT YOUR CASE. Translation, legal assistance etc will easily double the amount you've lost in fees. As well, in the rare occurrence FSU authorities follow up, you may have to go through a tedious procedure (as with ANY criminal case ): they are not going to round up their neighbours on your word alone.

4 You have no clue who is who. Even assuming the WU franchisee asked for and lodged a ID number, high quality IDs good enough to cross borders are readily sold in the FSU; or scammers may "borrow" someone's identity, or steal it.

Hey Aries! What Ham said is basically it, and is a big reason why Internet scams are so popular. 1st of all, it's a nobody died crime, so getting Russian police to care is probably next to impossible. Do you think she actually gave you her REAL name? With a little effort, I could send you a fake Russian passport claiming to be (you pick a name), with some address and a photo of some girl I downloaded. These people are hard to catch and harder to prosecute. Look at how many scammers blacklisted on this site have multiple aliases. The money is gone.

1st of all, it's a nobody died crime, so getting Russian police to care is probably next to impossible.

The lastest 2 dating scammers went to prison in Ekaterinburg in Nov of 2005, because police had like 18 complainers about the same group of scammers, and were able to collect enough info and prove the ciminal intent. Plus, a large number of complaints adds to the number of open cases that drag down their statistics, so they get motivated by that, too.

If more people were complaining, more scammers might have been sitting in prison right now. Police does not do anything often because the complaints they receive are crappy: 1) no Russian translation; 2) not notarized; 3) don't have enough information in them; 3) don't have the copy of the sender ID, and on and on and on. Even if police wanted to add them to an already existing case they couldn't. Of course, often police is not doing anything because they don't think they will be able to prove the case, but that is changing as more and more tials are making news in Russia and police departments are receiving directions from the Minister to crack down on dating scammers.

quote:Originally posted by Ihearmytrain Do you think she actually gave you her REAL name? .

Except for cases when the scammers have a "helper" in WU and can receive money in any name whatsoever, the name is real, but the characters from the letters are fake.

Also, do not confuse the actual scammers (usually guys) with the Western Union "mules" (girls who are sent to fetch the money). The name of the "fetcher" is usually real, except for the cases I mentions before.

quote:Originally posted by IhearmytrainWith a little effort, I could send you a fake Russian passport claiming to be (you pick a name), with some address and a photo of some girl I downloaded.

Yes, but if you go with your homemade "passport" to WU and try to receive the money, it won't work.

Yoshkar-Ola department has about 60 open cases against Russian scammers rigth now, and none of them had fake passports incidents. Usually the "mules" are identified within days after receiving the requested info from WU and brough in for questioning.

For that matter, I do not know of any case against scammers, pending or closed, where a fake passport was involved.

1st of all, it's a nobody died crime, so getting Russian police to care is probably next to impossible.

The lastest 2 dating scammers went to prison in Ekaterinburg in Nov of 2005, because police had like 18 complainers about the same group of scammers, and were able to collect enough info and prove the ciminal intent. Plus, a large number of complaints adds to the number of open cases that drag down their statistics, so they get motivated by that, too.

If more people were complaining, more scammers might have been sitting in prison right now. Police does not do anything often because the complaints they receive are crappy: 1) no Russian translation; 2) not notarized; 3) don't have enough information in them; 3) don't have the copy of the sender ID, and on and on and on. Even if police wanted to add them to an already existing case they couldn't. Of course, often police is not doing anything because they don't think they will be able to prove the case, but that is changing as more and more tials are making news in Russia and police departments are receiving directions from the Minister to crack down on dating scammers.

quote:Originally posted by Ihearmytrain Do you think she actually gave you her REAL name? .

Except for cases when the scammers have a "helper" in WU and can receive money in any name whatsoever, the name is real, but the characters from the letters are fake.

Also, do not confuse the actual scammers (usually guys) with the Western Union "mules" (girls who are sent to fetch the money). The name of the "fetcher" is usually real, except for the cases I mentions before.

quote:Originally posted by IhearmytrainWith a little effort, I could send you a fake Russian passport claiming to be (you pick a name), with some address and a photo of some girl I downloaded.

Yes, but if you go with your homemade "passport" to WU and try to receive the money, it won't work.

Yoshkar-Ola department has about 60 open cases against Russian scammers rigth now, and none of them had fake passports incidents. Usually the "mules" are identified within days after receiving the requested info from WU and brough in for questioning.

For that matter, I do not know of any case against scammers, pending or closed, where a fake passport was involved.